Scotland’s police chief has defended his decision to ask the Metropolitan Police Service to carry out a review into a scandal hit undercover unit.

A probe into the actions of the former Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency is to be carried at the request of Police Scotland’s chief constable Iain Livingstone.

The Scottish Police Authority challenged the decision at a meeting in Edinburgh, with former deputy chief constable Tom Halpin highlighting the Met’s own covert policing scandals.

The Met issued an apology to twelve women who unknowingly entered into relationships with undercover officers from the now defunct Special Demonstration Squad and National Public Order Intelligence Unit.

They have also paid out substantial sums in settlements to the women following the “totally unacceptable behaviour of a number of undercover police officers”.

Speaking at the meeting in Edinburgh, SPA board member Tom Halpin said: “Covert policing is the highest level of intrusion into people’s lives particularly their private lives as well.

“We owe an absolute duty as a board to hold that to the utmost scrutiny.

“You have exercised your own position to make the decision of asking the Metropolitan Police to be the organisation that scrutinises this and I understand that that is absolutely your imperative that you can make that.

“However, some of the real controversial issues around covert policing in the United Kingdom in recent which have been well reported have focused on units that were operated by and managed and oversight and governance came from the Metropolitan Police.

“Is that the appropriate body to be doing this external review of Police Scotland?”

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone defended the decision to ask for a peer review by the English force as their “bitter experience” has left them “best placed” to carry it out.

He said: “In regard to my request to the Metropolitan Police and to the commissioner, I think your observations are accurate about some of the experiences that the Metropolitan Police Service have had.

“But in actual fact, it’s because of some of those experiences that I think the Metropolitan Police are the best placed to carry out this review.

“They have the depth, the knowledge and a number of their operational practises and changes have been learned through bitter experience.

“This is the Metropolitan Police of 2019, it’s the commissioner of 2019 and the individuals who have been tasked by the commissioner to carry out the work to review the situation in Scotland are individuals of real experience and depth.

“The nature of this work is such that its difficult to go to smaller organisations to find people that have the requisite skills and experience and knowledge.

“And again, given the experience the Metropolitan Police have had and given their current level of rigour and their commitment to the ethical use of covert policing, I think that across the United Kingdom, they are by far in a way the most appropriate organisation to carry out this work.”

An internal review of the SCDEA has already been carried out by Police Scotland which the chief said was “robust and appropriate”.

But he added that action would be taken if the Met found further lines of enquiry or made recommendations.

The misconduct at the SCDEA was revealed by a former officer, known as Mrs K, who raised civil proceedings against her former bosses.

A judge ruled that she had been unfairly treated after she raised concerns about being asked to burn documents from the agency. Police Scotland is appealing the decision.

The SCDEA no longer exists as it was incorporated into Police Scotland, which replaced the former eight-force model in April 2013.

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Police Scotland is “struggling” to keep its buildings, vehicles and computer equipment functioning because of a lack of cash, MSPs have been told.

And senior figures from the force have warned that the condition of police stations and other parts of the estate could get worse unless additional resources were found.

David Page, deputy chief officer with Police Scotland, said that as it stood the force was effectively “putting band aids” on to try to deal with problems with buildings, vehicles and computer systems. He stated: “We’ve got to try to keep the fleet, estate and ICT working, which we are struggling to do.”

He spoke out at the same time as chief financial officer James Gray said the force had not yet received any indication as to whether it would get extra money for capital spending next year.

He said: “We do have a positive case around the benefits we can bring through getting our asset base, our buildings, our vehicles and our ICT into a fit-for-purpose state for policing in the 21st century. I think it is understood we do require additional capital funding, and we await the outcome of the budget to see if that reflects what we have said in hard cash.”

Their comments came after the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) – which represents rank and file officers – said earlier this year that two police stations should be closed because of health and safety concerns.

Oban police station was described as “unfit for human habitation”, with mould and crumbling plasterwork, while the station at Lochgilphead had suffered a rat infestation.

“Police officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, this unique circumstance should be recognised in the legal system and treated as an aggravation,” said SPF east are committee chair, Andrew Malcolm.

“Protective equipment needs to be reviewed and requires investment, Taser should be issued as standard.”

One of Police Scotland's top officers described his disgust at the "recklessness" displayed.

David Hamilton, from the Scottish Police Federation, Tweeted: "Absolutely appalled that yet another Police Officer has been injured by morons who think that the throwing of Pyrotechnics at Police Officers is in anyway acceptable.

"@ScotsPolFed continue to push for legislation that will protect officers and the public from these explosives."

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins, said: "The majority of those who took part in the processions listened to us and complied with our instructions.

"I am, however, disgusted at the recklessness and stupidity of those who decided to throw pyrotechnics, one of which injured an officer.

"He was simply carrying out a duty which allows us to facilitate people's rights and ultimately we were here today to keep everybody safe."

Police said the officer was taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.